How to successfully breastfeed the 1st week?

My first and second baby were exclusively breastfed the first 3 days at the hospital with no problems but as soon as we came home that night both screamed and cried and I was forced to give formula in a bottle. Does anyone know what I may have done wrong? I'd like to exclusively breastfeed this new baby due in December. Any suggestions?

Re: How to successfully breastfeed the 1st week?

It's really normal for babies to get a bit fussy right around the third day, before your milk comes in. The best thing to do is nurse nurse nurse. Usually your milk will come in shortly after and baby will be much happier. I thought there was a great website or resource on this (shared by JoEllen? or Susan?) but now I can't find it. Darn.

You can call me JoMo!

Mom to baby boy Joe, born 5/4/09 and breastfed for more than two and a half years, and baby girl Maggie, born 7/9/12.

Re: How to successfully breastfeed the 1st week?

Just don't give up! My little guy refused to nurse, both at the hospital and at home. After a few days of screaming and weight loss, I started pumping. For a few days I had to supplement with a little formula, while pumping furiously to increase my milk supply. So for the first 5 weeks, I had to pump exclusively. These weeks were really tough, and I mean really tough, but one day I got him to nurse with a nipple shield. So he nursed with the shield for a few weeks. This was immensely simpler than pumping, but still frustrating for me. But 2 weeks ago, he finally latched on without the shield, and it's been wonderful!!! All the work was worth it!
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I'm Erin, wife to a wonderful husband, and first time mother of Baby Will - 05/13/2012

Re: How to successfully breastfeed the 1st week?

The best advice I got was to nurse on demand, and frequently. I just nursed her as often as she'd let me - it was about every hour for the first few days. Just expect the baby to be pretty much attached for the first week or so. It helped us to get a hang of latching quickly, helped my milk to come in quickly and plentifully, and it helped her to get all the colostrum she needed those first few days. The colostrum doesn't come out very quickly, so nursing frequently ensures baby is getting all she needs. It really helped with the transition from colostrum to mature milk, because she wasn't starving to begin with. I agree, those first few days/nights at home are hard, but just try and stick it out. Sleep whenever you can, enlist lots of help, and nurse a lot! Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great.

Re: How to successfully breastfeed the 1st week?

with PP's... nurse, nurse, nurse! And whatever you do don't listen to anyone who says 'you're nursing AGAIN?!' as that's what feeding on demand is all about. For the first couple of weeks both you and LO are getting to know each other and learning to bf together. Sleep when LO sleeps, get family/friends to help with everyday chores and your other kids and let your LO guide you - even if he/she isn't hungry putting LO to the breast will reasure them. For 9 months they're nice and cosy inside our tummies then blam! out they pop into a huge, noisy, smelly, new world - a lot to handle for such a liitle thing, no?

HTH. Good luck for the birth!

-Ishy-
Married 28 july 2005
Mummy to my DS , born 30 july 2008
proud to have BF him for 8 months
Now a Mummy for the 2nd time to my DD , born 15 june 2012 for 15 1/2months! Still whenever we can and